Tickets

Celebrate the closing of our 55th Anniversary Season at CCCT with the timeless story and glorious music of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

Follow Maria from the Abbey to the home of the Von Trapp Family children and their stern father. When she brings music back into this house, Maria wins the hearts of everyone—on stage and in the audience. Great songs include “My Favorite Things,” “The Lonely Goatherd,” “Climb Every Mountain,” “Edelweiss,” and the wonderful title song, “The Sound of Music.” Your “heart will be blessed with the sound of music” from this beautiful story of rekindled love.

Sarah Sloan (Maria) Sarah’s recent performances include Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense at Tri Valley Rep and Polly Perkins in There Goes the Bride at Masquers Playhouse. In Danville, Sarah has portrayed Rose Maybud in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore, Yum Yum in The Mikado—for which she was nominated for a Shellie Award—and Lily Miller in Eugene O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness with Role Players Ensemble. Other roles include Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro with SF Cabaret Opera, Cherub in Der gedultige Socrates with SF Early Music Society, and Lucy Brown in Three Penny Opera. She has appeared with Lamplighter’s, Opera on Tap, Ross Valley Players, and as a featured soloist with Pleasanton Chamber Players. Sarah is a soloist at several congregations in the East Bay and is a frequent recitalist with CCPAS and The Etude Club of Berkeley. She has a degree in vocal performance from Cal State and teaches singing in Dublin.

Mark Manske (Captain von Trapp) This show will be Mark’s thirty-first production with CCCT since 2001 but his first singing role in twenty-five years. He was last seen as Atticus earlier this season in To Kill a Mockingbird and is honored to be back playing yet another iconic father. Mark was CCCT’s second artistic director and is a graduate of ACT’s advanced training program.

Grace Lorenzana(Liesl) is excited to be a part of The Sound of Music with Contra Costa Civic Theatre. She received her bachelor degree in performing arts at St. Mary’s College and lived in the Philippines for a year and a half to pursue her dreams in professional theater, when she took the opportunity to join the Asian premiere of Disney’s Aladdin. She is currently a junior high teacher in Walnut Creek. While fulfilling another lifelong passion in teaching, Grace still continued to do theater and since then has appeared in Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, and Urinetown. She has also been a part of The Full Monty, Disney’s Tarzan, and Carrie the Musical with Atlantis Productions and made her television debut as a contestant on “The Voice of the Philippines” working along side Lea Salonga and Apl.de.ap from the Black Eyed Peas, and hosted an episode of “Cityscape” on ANC.

Tommy Huebner(Friedrich) is looking forward to working again with several cast members from past productions here at CCCT. This is his theater home and he appreciates all his mentors that have encouraged him, along with the friendships he has made. He performed earlier this season in CCCT’s To Kill a Mockingbird (Dill) as well as CCCT’s 55th Anniversary Gala. He participated in the staged reading of Mrs. Packard (Arthur), Gypsy (Newsboy), and Children of Eden (Young Cain); Tommy has played Rory Wilkins in A.C.T’s A Christmas Carol, and worked on a documentary film, Emily and Billy (Tommy). When not in the theatre, you will find Tommy on the baseball field. He is wrapping up his 6th season of El Cerrito Youth Baseball.

Casey Moore(Louisa) is twelve years old and is a seventh grader at Oakland School for the Arts for theater. The Sound of Music is Casey’s first show at CCCT and she is very exited to be a part of it. She has also been in several children’s operas at the Grand Lake Montessori Opera Camp. Casey was also in a kids-stage production of The Sound of Music at Berkeley Playhouse, where she played Rolf and the Mother Abbess. Other musical experience Casey has was singing in the Oakland Youth Chorus Concert Choir.

Isaiah Johnson(Kurt) is thrilled to make his stage debut as Kurt in CCCT’s Sound of Music. He has studied theater and music at Creative Arts and Music Programs (C.A.M.P.) in Brooklyn, NY and at Berkeley Playhouse, Berkeley Rep, Bandworks, and CCCT in the Bay Area. He loves old movies, especially Hitchcock, Marx Brothers, and anything starring Jimmy Stewart or Danny Kaye. In addition to acting, Isaiah enjoys playing bass guitar and saxophone, cooking, and taking care of his cat, Joon.

Maya Martinez-Krams(Brigitta) is thrilled to be making her debut with CCCT. She has been singing for as long as she can remember and is excited to be using her talents in her favorite musical, The Sound of Music. She is a sixth grader at Black Pine Circle, where she has been on the stage since kindergarten performing in plays, singing, and playing clarinet and piano in the band. She plays competitive soccer year-round and studies voice and piano with Kevin Roland. She is so happy her teacher, Maureen Ray, told her about CCCT and wants to thank her family for all their support.

Kyra Chee(Marta) is thrilled to be making her first formal stage appearance with CCCT! She has previously appeared in the School of the Madeleine’s production of Seven Supermen and, most recently, in The LittlePrincess. In addition to acting, Kyra has studied the violin since she was six under Celia Volov at the Preparatory Music Program, located at Holy Names University in Oakland. She enjoys tap dancing, basketball, reading, and stargazing with her mom. Kyra would like to thank her parents for their support and chauffeuring, and is looking forward to being in seventh grade.

Marie Plette(Mother Abbess) After a long career in opera, the soprano finally returns to musical theater as the Mother Abbess, a role she last performed in high school. Sound of Music is not really her CCCT debut—she has been volunteering for years while her son Evan sang with Musical Juniors. Marie first started singing opera while studying musical theater at The Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT and then moved to NYC to attend the Juilliard Opera Center. A participant of the renowned Merola Opera Program at San Francisco Opera and winner of the Pavarotti Competition, her career has taken her across the globe from NYC to Rome to Hong Kong and back home to West Edge Opera. Marie will be singing Madame Butterfly this fall with Livermore Valley Opera.

Chloë Angst(Sister Margaretta) holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from California State University, Sacramento, an Associate of Arts in foreign language studies from American River College, and an Associate of Science in funeral service education from American River College. She has been seen most recently in the women’s chorus in Livermore Valley Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor and as Ronnette in Solano College Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors. Some of her favorite roles have been Belle in Beauty and the Beast with Wood Lively Arts and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz with Fairfield Civic Theatre. When she is not on stage, Chloë works at a mortuary as an apprentice embalmer. She is excited to be playing Sister Margaretta in her first CCCT production.

Natalie Buck-Bauer(Sister Sophia) has a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Vocal Music Performance from San Francisco State University. She loves to perform in operettas, operas, and musical theater productions. During the last school year Natalie has worked as a director of BACT’s Little Performers class and assistant director of the Young and Next Stage Performer’s classes at CCCT. During the summer Natalie works at CCCT’s drama camp, and this will be her seventh summer.

Christina Boothman(Nuns Chorus) is thrilled to be in her first production with CCCT. She has a BA in Music from the University of Michigan and was recently seen as Cinderella in Into the Woods with Pittsburg Community Theatre. Other recent credits include RENT, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweet Charity in Concert, and Gypsy.

Mary Coleston(Nuns Chorus) is happy to be back on stage in the Bay Area. Though she started at Woodminster Theater in My Fair Lady and Student Prince, most of her credits come from summer stock and theatre in Los Angeles. She is known for her performances as an Irish accented Mrs. Pearce in My Fair Lady, Pick-A-Little Lady Maud Dunlop in Music Man, Yente in Fiddler on the Roof, and Buttercup in HMS Pinafore. Noted non-musical roles are the Matron in Women Behind Bars, Mrs. Frump in The Cotswold Boy, and Gertrude Stein in the original play, A Rose is a Rose is a Rose. Her favorite performances with the Serendipity Theatre Company are The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Anne of Green Gables, The Velveteen Rabbit, and originating the role of Mrs. Rodgers in the musical Amelia Bedelia, where she danced as a banana cream pie.

Joy Craig(Nuns Chorus) has a degree in Dramatic Production and spent many years post college graduation in professional theater. This is her first foray into the theater in over 15 years, and she is thrilled to be back in The Biz. She is currently studying voice with George Hernandez.

Gracie Guichard (The Nuns Chorus) is very excited to be doing her first show with CCCT! Recently, she has been seen in shows at Town Hall Theatre and her favorite productions there include Into the Woods (Cinderella), Urinetown (Hope), and Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel). This summer she is also ecstatic to be doing her third summer at Young Rep. Gracie would like to thank her family for being so incredibly supportive and loving.

Mariah Heath(The Nuns Chorus) grew up in El Cerrito, performed her first musical (Annie Get Your Gun) on the CCCT stage, and is ecstatic to be performing again at CCCT and in her home town! Some of her favorite roles she has performed are Sister Mary Hubert in Nunsense (Pittsburg Community Theatre), Ensign Dinah Murphy in South Pacific (PCT), Ruth Two Bears in the West Coast premiere of Dogfight (OMG, I Love That Show! Productions), and most recently as the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods (PCT). In addition to performing, she is also a Shellie Award Nominated Choreographer for PCT’s productions of Nunsense and South Pacific. Mariah wants to thank her family and friends, who continue to support her in her crazy adventures on and off the stage.

Kelcey Poe (Frau Schmidt, Nun Chorus) is thrilled to perform with CCCT for the first time! She’s grateful and honored to be part of this production on its 55th Anniversary, and especially under the helm of such wonderful directors. Kelcey thanks her wonderful husband, Phil Lowery, for getting her into all this, and her vocal coach Scarlett Hepworth for encouraging her to audition!

Genevieve Saldanha(The Nuns Chorus) is ecstatic to be making her debut at CCCT! She is currently a freshman at Berkeley High School and was most recently seen in the Berkeley Repertory Teen One-Acts. She has also performed in the Berkeley Playhouse production of RENT. In the past, she has studied at the American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and California Shakespeare Theater. She enjoys being a part of the Berkeley Repertory Teen Council and was just recently accepted into the Merola Opera Program. In her free time she enjoys playing clarinet with the Berkeley High Band and Orchestra.

Peggy Stratton (Sister Berthe) is quivering with joy to perform in her first production with CCCT! Local audiences may (or may not) remember her playing hundreds of characters for the last 18 years in Danville’s long running cabaret show Wigged Out! /Reel Blondes at Victoria’s Hair on Stage. In the meantime, when she wasn’t playing softball or raising her wonderful kids, two 90 lb. lap dogs and husband Bob, she was in The Full Monty (Susan); Thoroughly ModernMillie (Muzzy), The Sound of Music (with TVRT); The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Princess Puffer), Ragtime, Cinderella, with ACLO; Evita with CCMT; Little House on the Prairie, and many other shows that she disavows any knowledge of. She dedicates this show to Bob (the funniest guy around). And, please enjoy discovering what is “the problem with Maria?”

Christian McCooey(Franz) is honored to be appearing in his second show with CCCT, in their production of The Sound of Music.

Maggie Tenenbaum(Elsa Schraeder) has come full circle since her first audition, in 1988, for The Sound of Music at this very theatre. She wasn’t cast then, but is delighted to be part of this production now. In the intervening decades, Maggie sang with the San Francisco Girls Chorus for many years, earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from U.C. Santa Cruz, and performed in over two-dozen productions throughout the Bay Area (most recently as a soloist in Sondheim in Concert), finally making her CCCT debut in 2009 as Claudia in Nine. She has worked with such companies as Ray of Light, DLOC, Douglas Morisson, Goat Hall, and Thrillpeddlers, and favorite roles have included Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Grace in Annie, Paquette in Candide, Julie Jordan in Carousel, and Cinderella in Into the Woods.

Ron Pickett(Max Detweiler) is a 25-year veteran of Bay Area theaters and is thrilled to be back with CCCT where he was last seen in The Addams Family (as Uncle Fester) and in The Drowsy Chaperone. Last summer Ron donned the German pig costume in TVRTs SHREK the Musical. Stepping away from the “Musicals” scene, Ron enjoyed performing this year in the French farce The Ladies Man at Role Players and also at Butterfield 8 with the world premiere of The Maltese Falcon. Ron is a four-time nominee for the BATCC award and won the award for his portrayal of Seamus in the Willows premiere production of Brimstone. Favorite roles include: Clem (Will Roger’s Follies), Jack (Into the Woods), Peter (Peter Pan), Joseph (Joseph….), Hot Blades Harry (Urinetown), and Jinx (Forever Plaid). A graduate of the MDT program at BYU, he has toured the world with the Young Ambassadors. Ron teaches private voice and is a music/drama teacher in Orinda. Thanks to family and friends for their endless love and support!

Paul Hogarth(Herr Zeller) is delighted to make his CCCT debut with The Sound of Music, which he has loved since second grade—when he and a classmate would role-play Rolf and Liesl on the playground during recess. A lawyer by training and a campaign director for the lefty political blog Daily Kos, Paul recently performed in the cast of Sondheim in Concert—a review of Stephen Sondheim musicals. He has trained at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and Society Cabaret, where he is preparing a one-man show. Paul can often be found singing at Martuni’s piano bar or hosting showtune parties in his studio apartment around a baby-grand piano. Past choral credits include Berkeley Broadway Singers, UC Men’s Chorale, and DeCadence A Cappella.

Bob Stratton(Admiral von Schreiber) his is Bob’s second appearance for CCCT, having previously been seen here as Sir Bedevere in SPAMALOT last summer. He performed most recently in Fiddler on the Roof for PCRT in Pleasanton, and has also been in numerous shows throughout the Bay Area but doesn’t want to bore you with the details. Instead please know that he is a retiree who likes sports, traveling, movies, and full contact origami. Bob just completed running his 34th consecutive Bay to Breakers and is also a volunteer for the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). His talented wife, Peggy appears as a nun in this show and yes, they are pretty much nun and NAZI at home too. The Sound of Music, CCCT, and you…. These are a few of my favorite things!

Bridey Bee (Assistant Stage Manager) is a student at Berkeley High School and is super excited to be working on this show. She is a core council member of the Berkeley Rep Teen Council and is very interested in advocating for the arts and arts funding. Her credits include stage manager for Blast Razor in the 2015 Teen One Acts Festival and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Once More with Feeling presented by Nerdology Musical Theatre whom she continues to work with. Bridey got her start in theatre at CCCT being in musicals as a kid and is delighted to return better than ever!

Sharon Bell(Costume Assistant) Wow, what a joy to join CCCT in the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music. After teaching college fashion design for over 20 years it was great to apply that knowledge. I’ve had the opportunity to costume theatre: Anything Goes, Light in the Piazza, Fantasticks, The Sound of Music and others.

Holly Below(Assistant Stage Manager) Since arriving at CCCT almost 40 year ago, Holly’s done some of just about everything here, including props, costumes, lighting, acting, directing, teaching, board ‘membering’ (?), floor scrubbing, photo sorting, mailing-list digitizing, stage managing, producing, and puppetry. Now happily retired from many years in elementary teaching, she is pleased to have more time to help create the magic at CCCT. High on her list of CCCT memories are directing The Fantasticks (’78), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (’79), and 1776 (’86), and more recently, props/set decoration for August: Osage County (2014).

Lisa Danz(Resident Costumer Designer) is excited to be back at CCCT and delighted to work on the upcoming shows this season. Lisa has worked with CCCT for a time while also designing costumes for Bay Area theaters including Role Players and Woodminster Amphitheatre. A graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, she loves the opportunity to be creative.

George F. Ledo(Set Designer) is a freelance theatrical designer. He studied set design at Cal State Northridge and UMass Amherst, and then served for fifteen years in the architectural field, working mostly on corporate and government projects. He then joined a scenic fabrication company in upstate New York, where he designed or managed projects for Universal Studios, Six Flags Parks, WXXA-TV, Union Properties (Dubai, U.A.E.), Washington National Opera, and other clients. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2003, George has created sets for the Douglas Morisson Theatre, Stage 1, Ohlone College, Bay Area Children’s Theatre, Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, Altarena Playhouse, and other local companies. www.georgefledo.net

Hamilton Guillén(Resident Lighting Designer) returns to CCCT after designing The Foreigner; Doubt, A Parable; and To Kill a Mockingbird earlier this season. Recent designs include Line of Beauty with Deborah Slater Dance Theater at the SF International Arts Festival, Trailer Park Gods with FaultLine Theater (San Francisco), Glengarry Glen Ross with TheatreFIRST (Berkeley), and Blood Brothers with Altarena Playhouse (Alameda). Upcoming projects as assistant lighting designer include The Mystery of Irma Vep and King Lear with California Shakespeare Theater (Orinda). Visit hamiltonguillen.wix.com/designs

Anya Kazimierski (Resident Scenic Painter) has been throwing paint around on the CCCT stage since 2012, and is pleased to call The Sound of Music her fourteenth show with the company. Originally from New York, Anya paints scenery for Berkeley Rep, Aurora Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, Bay Area Children’s Theatre, and more. She also does decorative finishes and murals for theaters and homes alike. See her other creations at flickr.com/photos/anyakaz/sets/ and enjoy the show.

Michael Kelly(Resident Sound Designer) found himself hooked on stage sound and DJing ever since first cueing up a 45 of Hot Butter’s “Popcorn” for his kindergarten’s production of Binky Rudich. He’s pleased to be back around for a tenth collaboration at CCCT after Next to Normal, La Cage Aux Folles, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), August: Osage County, Spamalot!, The Addams Family, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Doubt. He spends his limited spare time brewing beer, making cheese, reading sci-fi, historical bios, and art magazines, and listening to mainstream girl pop, chart rap, experimental synth bloops, paisley underground, ambient new age pablum, post-punk, and obscure disco. His favorite album of 2014 is a toss-up between Charli XCX, Taylor Swift, D’Angelo, Aphex Twin, or FKA Twigs.

Devon LaBelle(Resident Props Master) has curated and built props for over forty productions in the Bay Area. She has had the pleasure of working with: Bay Area Children’s Theatre, Berkeley Playhouse, Golden Thread Productions, Impact, Just Theater, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Theater FIRST, and The Piedmont Players. Love and thanks to Sam and Josie.

Marilyn Langbehn(Director/Artistic Director) is in her second season as Artistic Director of CCCT. Productions for the company include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)(revised) and August: Osage County, which received “Best Production” and “Best Director” nods at the inaugural Theatre Bay Area (TBA) awards in 2014. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2004, she has directed numerous productions including the West Coast premiere of David Mamet’s Race (“Best Director”, The Inlander), Rabbit Hole (“Top Ten Bay Area Productions of the Year”, Theater Dogs); Driving Miss Daisy (“Top Ten Bay Area Productions of the Year”, Contra Costa Times); Superior Donuts (San Francisco premiere); Frost/Nixon (Bay Area premiere); and Looking for Normal (Bay Area premiere). Ms. Langbehn is also the Marketing and PR Manager for California Shakespeare Theater in Berkeley. www.marilynlangbehn.net

Stewart Lyle(Resident Build Manager) As Technical Director for Altarena Playhouse, Custom Made Theatre Company, and Woodminster Amphitheatre, and Build Manager for Contra Costa Civic Theatre, Stewart has designed, served as technical director, and/or built nearly 50 shows over the last four years. He also directs and acts, and feels incredibly fortunate to be making his living in the theatre. Love to Donna.

Mackenzie Laurel Orvis(Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working with the fantastic folks at CCCT again. She most recently worked on Impact Theatre’s modern take on Richard III and her last show at CCCT was The Addams Family. It’s been wonderful working with the talented cast and crew of The Sound of Music. Many thanks to William for putting up with theatre hours.

Kevin Roland(Music Director, Pianist) makes his CCCT debut with The Sound of Music as a recent transplant to the Bay Area from Washington, DC where he called Arena Stage home. He is now the Resident MD for Bay Area Children’s Theatre. A professional pianist, music director, conductor, composer, and orchestrator, Kevin has music directed and played for over 200 productions including nearly a dozen Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional productions which include Wicked, Avenue Q, The Addams Family, Motown, Legally Blonde, and Next to Normal. He most recently directed the California premiere of James & The Giant Peach (Pasek & Paul) produced by BACT as well as conducted The Music Man at the Lesher Center for CCMT. He has also music directed productions at the SF Playhouse and Berkeley Playhouse. Kevin has performed as a guest pianist at the White House on several occasions, and has accompanied such Broadway stars as Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Elaine Paige, Liz Callaway, Laura Benanti, and Sutton Foster, among others. Kevin has also performed with such artists as John Legend, Roberta Flack, Reba McIntyre, Bruce Springsteen, and was most recently the Associate Music Director for the 1st National Broadway Tour of Motown the Musical. Kevin was recently the featured pianist for the Silicon Valley Symphony’s “Gospel Messiah” and is also the creator and composer for the upcoming “Off Broadway” musical version of Waiting for Guffman. Next up, you can see Kevin in the pit at Woodminster for their summer season.

Rick Wallace(Choreographer) has choreographed and directed musical theater, opera, and ethnic dance in the Bay Area for many years, including eighteen seasons as choreographer for the Mountain Play in Marin County. Sound of Music is the fifth show Rick has choreographed at CCCT. Rick is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and has performed in local shows and touring productions throughout the country, including the National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof with the late Herschel Bernardi. Rick is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley with a degree in dramatic arts. Rick is an El Cerrito resident, and greatly appreciates the high artistic standards at CCCT that consistently enrich our community with high-quality theater. It is a privilege to work with CCCT’s remarkably gifted artistic and production staff, and this wonderful Sound of Music cast.